From today, February 1st, until Sunday, February 4th, Oradea hosts for the first time the European Championship of Swimming in Frozen Waters. The event will take place at the Olympic Pool, outdoors. Details of the competition were presented at a press conference attended by the organisers and legends of this extreme sport.

The first European Ice Swimming Championship is organized by IISA (International Ice Swimming Association), the Ice Swimming and Open Water Sports Association, in partnership with Oradea City Hall, APTOR (Visit Oradea) and CSM Oradea.

The press conference was attended by the deputy mayor Marcel Dragoș, and on behalf of the organizers were present: Paul Georgescu – president of the Ice Swimming and Open Water Sports Association, Ram Barkai – president of the International Ice Swimming Association, Petar Stoychev – swimmer, a legend of this sport, with 4 appearances at the Olympic Games, world and European champion, Ovidiu Tirla – former polo player, swimming and polo referee, medalist at the World Championships of Swimming in Frozen Waters.

“First of all, thank you for choosing Oradea as your destination, we are proud to host this major event. We are very happy that the city has the necessary infrastructure to organize such events, and I also hope that the World Championship will be organized, if possible, in Oradea. I also invite the people of Oradea to participate in large numbers in this unique event in our city”, said Deputy Mayor Marcel Dragoș.

Information about the event was presented by Ram Barkai, President of the International Ice Water Swimming Association.

The large-scale competition brings together in Oradea 322 participants from 27 countries, including legends of this extreme sport, who will compete in water with a temperature below 5 degrees Celsius. Romania has a field of 35 professional and amateur swimmers. The Tricolours are coordinated by Paul Georgescu, world champion in this sport in the 500m event, who was instrumental in the development of this sport in Romania.

“Thank you very much Oradea, thank you very much to everyone for organising this event, we can’t wait to swim in your pools. It is a very important competition for us for several reasons, as I said it is the first European championship of swimming in icy waters and it is as important as the championship held in France. It also has a special speciality for me: although I was born in South Africa, my father is from Cluj, so for me it’s like coming home to Oradea again. I have already tried the water, which is cold, but not very cold. I would like to congratulate the local administration for having such a swimming pool, you should be proud to have such an infrastructure in Oradea”, said Ram Barkai, President of the International Ice Swimming Association,

The competition will take place on February 2nd – 4th. In the morning, from 9.00 to 13.00, the heats will take place and the swimmers with the best 8 times will fight for the podium in the evening session from 16.30 to 18.00. Twelve Paralympic athletes will also take part in the competition.

Oradea is represented by three athletes: Ovidiu Tirla, Antonio Alexandrescu and David Fazekas.

Ovidiu Tirla, a former polo player, swimming and polo referee, with 7 medals at the World Swimming and Frozen Water Championships, representative of the Municipality of Oradea at this championship, said: “This European Championship was not possible without the infrastructure we have in Oradea. I, as a swimming coach, am first of all proud that Oradea has two Olympic swimming pools of the highest standard. This is the first European championship to be held in a real pool, the other competitions were held on buildings, on the lake, on rivers. For two days now, since the delegations have been coming, they are really amazed by what is on offer here. Very few cities in the world can offer two Olympic pools side by side, indoor and outdoor. I wanted this European championship in frozen waters to promote Oradea first of all, but also to promote swimming among the people of Oradea. Thanks once again to Oradea City Hall, Visit Oradea, CSM Oradea and IISA International for the opportunity to organize this competition in our city. Thanks also to the sponsors, without whom it is very difficult to cover the costs of such an event.”

Admission to the event is free.

The opening ceremony will take place today, February 1st, from 18:00 at the Olympic Pool.

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